Expreffion. (1.) That he spake not like a common Interpreter of the Law, confirming his DoArine as the Jewish Doctors commonly did, by the Authority of their learned Men, but with the Air and Authority of a Prophet, and by that Authority took upon him to correct the Doctrine even of the Scribes and Pharifees themfelves. And he fhewed his Authority for this his Miffion and Commiffion from God, by the many Miracles which he wrought. He fhewed them that he had a fuperior Authority to the Jewish Doctors; their Authority was the ordinary Authority of the Jewish Church, which though at that Time very corrupt, yet our Saviour advised the People, Matth. xxiii. 2. to fubmit to it. But whenever there came a Prophet, that is, an immediate Meffenger from God, that was reckoned an Authority much fuperior. And that they commonly reckoned our Saviour's fuch an Authority as this, appears by their Sentiments of him, which they now and then uttered; which were, that he was a Prophet, and a great Prophet, and fometimes, that Prophet which should come into the World that is, the Meffiah. (2.) By his speaking with Authority, I believe, may be meant, his delivering thofe Divine Truths with a Seriousness, Gravity, and Majefty fuitable to the great Weight and Importance of them, and not drily and coldly, as the Scribes did the Doctrines about their Traditions and Ceremonies. Now we know there is a very great Difference in this Matter as to the Influence which the fame Doctrine has upon the Hearers, when delivered by an extraordinary good Man, that firmly believes himself

what

what he delivers to others, and by another, who delivers it with an Air of Unconcernednefs, and feems not to value or regard, whether it makes any Impreffions upon the Hearers or no. But especially we have all Reafon to believe, that our Saviour had a moft extraordinary Energy or Power in delivering divine Truths, beyond not only the Jewish Scribes, but beyond all other Men; as the Officers told the chief Priefts, giving that for the Reason why they had not apprehended him, as they had been commanded, John vii. 46. Never Man, fay they, pake like this Man. And a great deal of Reafon there is for it; for no other Perfon understood fo well the Hearts of Men, to speak Home to them; nor did any Perfon understand fo well, or had so right a Senfe of the Worth of Souls, or of the Importance of those Truths, which make for the eternal Salvation of them. (3.) By his speaking with Authority, or with a powerful Influence, fo as to touch the Hearers, may be meant, the inward Grace, which accompanied his outward Preaching: As the two Difciples travelling to Emmaus obferved, concerning his Difcourfe with them in that Journey, Luke xxiv. 32. And they faid one to another, Did not our Heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the Way, and while be opened to us the Scriptures? Our Saviour had Power, (as the original Word, vola, here fignifies) both to command what Measure of Grace he thought fit to go out with the Word preached, and had Power likewife over the Hearts of Men to open them, that they might receive what Measure of it he thought fit. So much for the good

good Qualifications in the divine Teacher, which proved fo effectual on this Occafion. I fhall make but one Obfervation more; namely,

IV. Concerning the good Effects of this divine Sermon on the Hearers of it, intimated in thefe Words, They were aftonished at his Doctrine. There are two Things I would briefly obferve from this Part of the Text; namely,

1. The great inward Impreffion this Sermon made.

2. That this Impreffion was not upon one or two, but generally upon all, or at least the greatest Part of the People. The People were aftonifked

at his Doctrine.

1. Let us confider the great inward Impreffion this Sermon made. This is fignified to us in that Word which we tranflate Aftonished. It seems to me much more emphatick in the Original,

Toro, that is, they were ftruck, terrified, aftonished, and mightily wrought upon, for all this the Word fignifies: And that this was a working the right Way, appears from the very next Verfe, in the beginning of the next Chapter, which tells us, that when he came down from the Mountain, the Multitudes followed him. They were certainly fmitten; for tho' they had come a great Way, and had been now fome Days from Home; and though now in this Sermon, they were undeceived as to their carnal Expectations from the Meffiah's Kingdom, and all the Wealth, Eafe, and Luxury they had hoped for from it; yet all this does not difcourage them, but they are refolved to stay with him, and become his Disciples.

Difciples. But I need not carry the Matter fo far, the Scripture being filent, whether this prefent Impreffion went fo far as a full Converfion: The Design of the Evangelift feems to be only to acquaint us with the prefent Impreffion this Sermon made upon their Hearts and Spirits; which was enough, if duly cultivated, to make a thorough Converfion, and entire Profelytes of them. They were ftruck, they were awakened, they were pricked in their Hearts, they were brought to a Discovery of their Error, and to a Sight and Senfe of their Duty; and it looks very well that it is not faid of any of them, that they were offended, and deferted Chrift, but the quite contrary; that instead of difperfing, when the Sermon was ended, they kept following of him ftill. Now this great Impreffion here taken Notice of, befides the Power and Energy of the Preacher, which has been obferved already, difcovers to us two good Qualities in the Hearers, which are well worthy of our Imitation; namely, that they had been very attentive; and that they had done nothing to obftruct the Influence of the good Doctrine upon their Hearts and Minds. For want of which good Qualities it is, that the best Doctrine commonly proves but like Water Spilt upon the Ground, and fo is quite loft to the Hearers. For if the Mind is unattentive, and wandering after any other Objects or Projects, or if it is fleepy and drowsy, that it do not both throughly understand, and deeply ponder and lay to Heart the good Doctrines, which are propofed to it; or if understanding and adverting to them, through any

Prejudice

Prejudice to the Teacher, or the Doctrines, they are not kindly admitted into the Heart, it cannot be expected they will have the good Effects here mentioned; far lefs produce the full Harvest of Amendment of Life. But,

2. It is yet ftranger, that this Impreffion was fo general, not upon one or two, but upon the Body of the People. The People were aftonished at his Doctrine. It is a very rare Thing that there are fuch mighty Harvests of whole Multitudes at once gained over to Chrift; yet feveral Inftances we have of it in our Saviour's and his Apoftles Days, according to the Prophecy of the Pfalmift, Pfal. cx. 3. Thy People Shall be willing in the Day of thy Power. And, Ifa. ix. 2. The People that walked in Darkness, have feen a great Light.

And now for Application. It were much. to be wished, that our Christian Congregations had more of the Spirit of these Primitive ones, that they were affifting to one another in exciting, by good Counfel and Example, to the Exercife of all Chriftian Virtues. But, alas, we are fadly degenerate; for inftead of conferring together upon the good Things we hear in the Publick Affemblies for Teaching and Worship, we think all is over fo foon as we get out of Church, and that there lies no further Obligation upon us to exhort one another to Love and good Works, or to put in Practice any of the good Things we learn in publick; but do rather help what we can to wear off all Senfe of them, by fuch a trifling or finful Converfation, as is only apt to diffipate Devotion, and all

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